Ulster County could be dealt losing hand under NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo's casino plan, state Sen. John Bonacic says

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- A plan by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allow only one casino in a seven-county region that includes Ulster County probably would leave Ulster out in the cold, state Sen. John Bonacic said on Tuesday.

"If that happens, I will tell you that Sullivan (County) is probably in, Ulster is probably out," Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, said during a breakfast meeting of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The problem with Ulster County being lumped in with Sullivan is that three Sullivan County developers are trying to win approval for casinos on their property, said Bonacic, who chairs the Senate's Gaming, Wagering and Racing Committee.

Advertisement

"Grossingers has an interest up in Liberty, the Concord with Entertainment Properties Trust are moving forward with a project, whether they get a casino or not, and the third is in Mamakating on the Flaum property," he said.

The only proposal for a casino in Ulster County is from the Michael Treanor-led group that purchased the defunct Nevele hotel in Ellenville last year.

Allowing casinos on non-Indian land in New York still needs approval by the state Legislature, Cuomo and the state's voters.

Bonacic said the governor needs to be more forthcoming with details of his plan.

"I am trying to push the governor ... (to) name the seven regions where these (casino) licenses could go and tell the people where they'll never go."

Part of the uncertainty is whether non-Indian casinos would be allowed to operate in the same areas as existing Indian facilities.

Cuomo has proposed there be only one casino in each of six regions of the state. If deals are reached with current tribal ownership of existing casinos in three of the regions, they would be protected from competition. Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said on Tuesday said there is a June 30 deadline for the Indian casinos to reach the agreements.

"Some of the tribes have some issues outstanding with New York," Azzopardi said. "If those issues get resolved, the contract's in good standing and the exclusivity zone would be honored."

"We don't want to be in competition with Monticello," Kaplan said, referring to the video gambling terminals at Monticello Raceway in Sullivan County. "I feel that Ellenville has gotten hit by the recession much worse than Monticello. They're getting a million in revenue from the racino plant, and they are the (Sullivan) County seat. We don't have those benefits. We need this project desperately."

Bonacic responded: "You should give that speech to Gov. Cuomo."

Bonacic also said there must be clarity about how casinos would benefit host communities.

"I want to make sure that the voters know what they're voting on," he said.

Bonacic said he would like to have 80 percent of casino revenues put toward education and 20 percent committed to property tax reduction.

Cuomo has proposed 10 percent of revenues go to the host communities, 10 percent go to counties in the region and 80 percent go to the state.